Otto

Thanks all - that is great!

What does "car club" parking mean? There is a new sign on melbourne grove. Is that for quick rental cars like zip cars? Otto

take the birthday child and a few friends to the IMAX and then have picnic/cupcakes outside on the southbank...good for 7 year olds...

personally...I wish there were more snow so we could justify a few of these.... http://inventorspot.com/articles/robot_snowplow_japan_shovels_sno_9534

if you have room in your house for an au pair, you might have better luck, and, it would be less expensive. I have had many au pairs from universalaupairs.com, and, a few of my friends have also used the same company. You can browse through the listings to see if there are suitable candidates. To contact a potential condidate, you have to pay a 30pound registration fee. That is the only fee. It is a good website as the girls have to write a bit about themselves which reveals not just personality and interests, but, the level of english they have mastered. Pardon this message if an au pair is not an option for you - Best, Otto

A bit different - there was over a meter of snow. falling at a rate of 3inches an hour. And, they are southerners.

yes - art is subjective - it is not my favorite either, but, I just felt it needed defending as it is an art form back on the ascendent - and a valid one that does not necessarily mean "crime". JBarber's comment just struck me as one that needed a bit of enlightenment, and, he did ask to be enlightened. This years Turner Prize winner, Richard Wright really is a kind of Graffiti artist in a sense as well...with a different kind of aesthetic. to continue the Devil's Advocate strain......a Banksy would certainly put ED on the (progressive) map and generate loads of press...

There is a brilliant graffiti project on Bethnal Green road that has been really fantastic for the community. I think graffiti comes in different forms - its origin as a tagging mechanism has evolved into many other things - I will try to dig up some more "evidence" that would support a graffiti wall as I hate to see all graffiti labeled as "bad" across the board. I think some kind of art project there is a great idea, but, as art is such a subjective thing, it will certainly be a can of worms. The idea of graffiti is a fairly on-trend idea that reflects the character of the neighborhood. The graffiti that is allowed to happen at the Southbank where the skateboarders are is source of pleasure for many a passerby, especially young children... Here is the Bethnal Green link - http://www.richmix.org.uk/downloads/press/spring09/RM_PR_GrafittiProject.pdf and here is a link to the website of one of the artists - http://www.jonhammer.com/blog/2009/04/10/90-m-graff-wall-bethnal-green-road/#more-517 Here is a link to a contemporary artist that does art on walls in a graffiti-derived way - (disclosure: friend of mine) - he is really worth a look at to see how graffiti can be raised up a level - he has been commissioned by Bloomberg, MOMA NY and other fine establishments... http://www.markdeanveca.com/ Best, Otto

Nothing reported - check here for all earthquake data and information in Europe - click on other buttons to see worldwide -- http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/region/Europe.php

best weather is from the met office website. you can enter your postcode to get really specific. not the best website design, but the most detailed info on offer. metoffice.gov.uk/

Dulwich Hamlet School now officially closed tomorrow!

Neighbor's daughter at Horniman School - she received a text this afternoon saying they are closed tomorrow...

The GP will give you a prescription for soy formula -- quite a help as then it is free...

I have seen a few groupings of young men hanging out on tell grove near melbourne - I am unsure if they are related to this, but it is something I have noted over the past month or so...and I have not seen them previous to the past month -- I live quite nearby...perhaps the safe neighborhood team can step up some patrols in this area...

Hi Sylvie - That is awful. Glad you are ok. Thanks for posting. Were you on the end by the station or further down across East Dulwich Grove or on the LL end?

my youngest went there for a year and thrived! highly recommended.

chesty coughs with no cold beforehand and a slight fever is highly likely to be swine flu. I know, because 3 out of four of us have had it in this house...something that suddenly appears, straight to the chest, very deep full coughs... don't panic. we are all alive. it is horrid though. if he/she has had it for two days, you are on the border as to whether tamiflu would be effective. my littlest one recovered with no tamiflu as we were in the same boat and did not think of swine flu...it took a few weeks for his chest to clear, but, he was up and running after 3 or 4 days...

something eclectic that serves coffee, fresh juices & beer, has magazines, wifi, good music cd's...and some light snacks. maybe mixed in with some vintage bric-a-brac/furniture stuff. not a mummy/child place. (even though I am a mum). or - on the simple side - a good mexican, korean or cuban restaurant. an office/art supplies place will also be needed shortly. maybe that also does not have to be so dull and can be a weird hybrid of interesting stuff...

We have missed several items of post lately. We are near Lordship Lane. We have had good service up until recently. Our carrier is the same person. Specifically, I am missing some event tickets, magazines, and bills.

Hi- I am also American - I have one child in state, and, one private. Just to warn you --the school issue is a minefield here in London with regard to class issues on state v private -- brace yourself!!! In my eyes, it is an academic issue. I will venture to say James Allen's Girl's School and Alleyn's are the best available schools for girls (though private) and are difficult to gain entry for. On the state side, I've heard good things about Charter, but, it will not be anything near the caliber of a private education. There. I've said it. Oh dear...

Hi - Our house was hit by swine flu this week, and, we have all had a different experience with it. There was also a note from my son's school on friday as several boys have come down with it. (and there is norovirus at son number 2's school just to add a bit more to back-to-school-fun). Son number one who is 5 had it first, in a terrible way. It came on quite suddenly. He spent 24hours coughing, wheezing laboured quick breathing, and puking (because he was coughing so hard), but, did not have a temperature. He then took a four hour nap (unheard of) and emerged a bit better -- we thought he ought to go to the hospital, but he had perked up and could breathe easier so we decided not to. We had dismissed that it was swine as he had no fever. He is still coughing a week later, but, in good form energy-wise. My never sick husband then had what seemed like a bad cold. He is also still coughing. Then...my turn with the works - and I had quite a fever. It was then we decided we had IT. The same day, the note from the school appeared. It was too late for tamiflu to do much good for the my 5 year old son, my husband was on the mend, but, being asthmatic and in the thick of it, I got some from the NHS. I think it has already helped a bit with the wheeze, but, I am still bed-ridden. My oldest son has not had any symptoms yet. I think I will not order his dosage unless he catches it, and, needs it... So - just to say we've all had different experiences with it, but, if you are wondering all autumn whether you have it, the thing that was similar for all of us was it was a sudden severe thing rather than something that progresses and comes on slower as a cold/flu does. And, as bad as it is (and I can say it is wretched), it is nothing to fear. I'm terribly asthmatic, and, still here!!!

Thank you Councillor Barber - I like your information regarding the alarms. And I also think cycling is a great evening safety option. Of course, it is not for everyone, but, I think it is an excellent suggestion. I personally feel very ill at ease coming back in the evening alone as I do live close to where there were some serious issues in the beginning of the summer. The bicycle clears my anxiety as I feel quite speedy and on high perception mode whilst on it. In fact, I sped home last evening very late without any concerns...

the pirate ship on the southbank...Golden hinde... the scout center has a nice field... st. stephens church... the zoo at regents park does a great party... the first and last on this list might be too pricy but they were fun...

oh - and - as far as diversity issues go, the private school had more people from different ethnicities than the state...and we found that pretty rewarding as far as learning about other cultures, etc...

we have one child in private, and, one in the highly rated dulwich hamlet. Our hamlet child switched over from DCPS early last autumn as we were credit crunched. We are both adjusting to the change. I can say hands down I would switch him back if we had the cashflow even though the hamlet is a good school. Why? Very large class sizes and my easily distracted child is very distracted by the more free behavior in the class. He has gone backward academically over the year, though some of that can be attributed to switching schools rather than the school itself. As well, the school is much less structured with homework and lessons etc which does not work well for us. I do feel he has gone back an entire grade level and that was qualified by our latest school report. There really is a vast difference between the quality of education which is a bit sad as we'd like to be believers in the state system. On the upside, he is doing more creative work in the state school as the art program is very good. good luck with your ponderings....it is indeed a difficult issue.